Colorado Rockies

Players selected in the expansion draft by the Colorado Rockies, with place in draft in parentheses:Pitchers(1) David Nied, Atlanta; (5) Darren Holmes, Milwaukee; (15) Scott Aldred, Detroit; (21) Willie Blair, Houston; (25) Andy Ashby, Philadelphia; (32) Doug Bochtler, Montreal; (34) Lance Painter, San Diego; (36) Butch Henry, Houston; (38) Ryan Hawblitzel, Chicago Cubs; (42) Brett Merriman, California; (46) Kevin Ritz, Detroit; (50) Keith Shepherd, Philadelphia; (52) Calvin Jones, Seattle; (56)

The Orioles have signed 49-year old LHP Jamie Moyer to a minor-league contract. Moyer is expected to start for Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday. The Colorado Rockies released Moyer and he cleared waivers, making him a free agent. Earlier this season, Moyer became the oldest pitcher to win a major league game. He had a stint with the Orioles from 1993-1995. This season, Moyer was 2-5 with a 5.70 ERA with the Rockies.

BaseballColorado Rockies -- Activated P Mark Grant from the DL. Optioned P Butch Henry to Triple-A Colorado Springs.Montreal Expos -- Optioned C Tim Laker to Triple-A Ottawa.

Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel says he's a much different pitcher from the one who last faced the New York Yankees in 2008. Through four starts this season, Hammel - acquired in the February trade that sent No. 1 starter Jeremy Guthrie to the Colorado Rockies - has been a surprising success story. He takes a 3-0 record and 1.73 ERA into the Bronx for Monday's series opener, looking to give the Orioles his fourth quality start of the season. Hammel, who entered the season with a career 4.99 ERA, said he has grown mentally since he was demoted to the Rockies' bullpen at the end of last season.

NEW YORK -- Rick Sutcliffe of the St. Louis Cardinals was suspended for eight games and fined by National League president Leonard Coleman yesterday for throwing at and hitting pitcher Marvin Freeman of the Colorado Rockies in a game July 17.Sutcliffe, who went on the disabled list this week, appealed the suspension and will have a hearing before Coleman.

Pacific Trading Cards' Spanish-language baseball set has been expanded with a 330-card second series. Included are 22 members each of the expansion Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies. There are two insert sets, 36 "prism" cards (shown is the Orioles' Sherman Obando) and 20 Baseball Amigos (multiple players on each card).

On Javy Lopez joining the Colorado Rockies Actually, if you were to pick one location to put the guy, it would be Colorado. Power has always been Javy's only contribution, and Coors Field will only magnify that. Good for Javy. Maybe Rodrigo Lopez is a Rockie soon? Is the rumor true that there's a shortage of catchers? They seem like left-handed relievers; anyone will do, and anyone will take a chance on one.

The Orioles have signed 49-year old LHP Jamie Moyer to a minor-league contract. Moyer is expected to start for Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday. The Colorado Rockies released Moyer and he cleared waivers, making him a free agent. Earlier this season, Moyer became the oldest pitcher to win a major league game. He had a stint with the Orioles from 1993-1995. This season, Moyer was 2-5 with a 5.70 ERA with the Rockies.

BaseballAtlanta Braves -- Signed free-agent 3B Gary Scott to a Triple-A contract.Colorado Rockies -- Signed 1B Todd Helton and assigned him to Single-A Asheville.Houston Astros -- Optioned P Pedro A. Martinez to Triple-A Tucson. Purchased the contract of P Ross Powell from Tucson. Sent OF Phil Plantier to Tucson on an injury rehabilitation assignment.Kansas City Royals -- Promoted P Nevin Brewer and P Kevin Rawitzer from Single-A Wilmington to Double-A Wichita.Seattle Mariners -- Activated P Steve Frey from the 15-day DL. Optioned OF Marc Newfield to Triple-A Tacoma.

Very little has gone right this season for Oakland (21-30), which enters Friday's series opener with the Orioles mired in last place in the American League West, mostly because of a punchless offense. Heading into Thursday, the A's ranked last in the AL in batting average, home runs, slugging percentage, extra-base hits and batting average with runners in scoring position. Outfielder Matt Holliday, acquired in a trade with the Colorado Rockies before the season, is starting to heat up, going 8-for-19 with three doubles, a homer and five RBIs in his past five games.

There are two pervasive thoughts for the 2008 baseball season: The American League is far superior to the National League. And no team is without a significant question mark heading into its first games, even in the AL. The Boston Red Sox's rotation is banged up, the New York Yankees are maybe too old and maybe too young. The Detroit Tigers' bullpen is a mess, the Cleveland Indians have offensive holes and a top-heavy rotation and the Los Angeles Angels? deep rotation already is reeling.

DENVER -- For several minutes, for half an inning, there was legitimate, breath-holding, hat-hanging drama in a World Series that previously had looked like a Boston Red Sox highlight film. Then the Red Sox did what they've done all year: Their hitters bashed the opposing reliever and their own bullpen held steady. And when the dust settled after four hours and 19 minutes on the first World Series game ever held in Denver, the Red Sox emerged with a 10-5 win over the Colorado Rockies last night and a commanding 3-0 lead.

Denver-- --So this is what it comes down to for the Colorado Rockies, now that the 103rd World Series has moved to a mile above sea level: They have to hope they are the ones who benefit from the reduced number of oxygen molecules in the rarified air, and they have to pray the Boston Red Sox suffer from the lack of an important element in their team chemistry. Don't fret. I'm not going to blind anybody with science. It's just that both teams will arrive at Coors Field for tonight's Game 3 with plenty of room to wonder how the change of environment will affect this - so far - one-sided exercise in American League superiority.

BOSTON-- --This is the first thing that popped into my mind after the Boston Red Sox made the Colorado Rockies look like so many purple pinstriped pinatas last night at Fenway Park: I sure hope the Ravens get more out of their bye week than the Rockies got out of theirs. The Rocks were on an unprecedented roll when they were forced to cool their heels for eight days leading up to their first World Series. They had won 21 of their past 22 games and dispatched the Arizona Diamondbacks so quickly in the National League Championship Series that they could have had their pennant celebration on a cruise ship if they were so inclined.

Rafael Palmeiro says he's appalled by Marion Jones' insincerity and dishonesty. Just so I understand: The NBA has a player dress code, but not a team executive harassment code, right? Not to pretend to be a football expert or anything, but maybe this afternoon against the 49ers, the Ravens could try running the ball. With the back they traded three picks to get, dumped their all-time career rushing leader to make room for, and are paying $40 million to keep. Whether the Orioles will regret Jim Duquette's leaving depends on whom Andy MacPhail gets to replace him. But Duquette is a good enough personnel man to put the regret ideas in the back of your head someday.

BREAKOUT PLAYER / / TROY TULOWITZKI Team / / Colorado Rockies Position / / Shortstop Comment / / Tulowitzki was taken with the seventh pick in the first round of the 2005 draft. By the end of August 2006, he was in the major leagues. And he might stay there for years. He's 6 feet 3 and 205 pounds and should be able to take advantage of the thin air at Coors Field. He's just 22, but the Rockies have cleared a space for him. COLORADO ROCKIES LAST SEASON / / 76-86 / / TIED FOR FOURTH PLACE LINEUP 2006 STATISTICS CF Willy Taveras .278, 83 runs, 33 SBs 2B Kaz Matsui .267, 3 HRs, 26 RBIs 3B Garrett Atkins .329, 29 HRs, 120 RBIs 1B Todd Helton .302, 15 HRs, 81 RBIs LF Matt Holliday .326, 34 HRs, 114 RBIs RF Brad Hawpe .293, 22 HRs, 84 RBIs SS Troy Tulowitzki .240, 1 HR in 96 ABs C Chris Iannetta .260, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs ROTATION RHP Aaron Cook 9-15, 4.23, 92 K's LHP Jeff Francis 13-11, 4.16 ERA, 117K's RHP Rodrigo Lopez 9-18, 5.90 ERA, 136 K's RHP Jason Hirsh 3-4, 6.04 ERA, 29 K's RHP Josh Fogg 11-9, 5.49, 93 K's BULLPEN LHP Brian Fuentes 3-4, 3.44 ERA, 30 saves RHP LaTroy Hawkins 3-2, 4.48 ERA, 0 saves LHP Jeremy Affeldt 8-8, 6.20 ERA, 1 save Manager / / Clint Hurdle, sixth season Payroll / / $54 million X-factor / / Is Willy Taveras the slap hitter who nearly got benched in the first half last year or the author of a 30-game hitting streak in the second half?

On Javy Lopez joining the Colorado Rockies Actually, if you were to pick one location to put the guy, it would be Colorado. Power has always been Javy's only contribution, and Coors Field will only magnify that. Good for Javy. Maybe Rodrigo Lopez is a Rockie soon? Is the rumor true that there's a shortage of catchers? They seem like left-handed relievers; anyone will do, and anyone will take a chance on one.